When cats get sick with H5N1 avian influenza, they get severely ill, and up to 70% of affected cats will die. But little is known about how the virus spreads among cats, whether they serve as a vector to other animals or humans and how common infections are in community cat populations.

The Cornell Feline Health Center (CFHC) in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is starting an initiative to answer those questions, first through a pilot project in New York state.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to addressing urgent public and animal health risks through translational research,” said CFHC director Dr. Bruce Kornreich, D.V.M. ’92, Ph.D. ’05.

The CFHC Feline H5N1 Surveillance Consortium will first establish a surveillance program testing cats at shelters, clinics and veterinary hospitals within New York state. Once operational logistics, surveillance and testing protocols are established, the goal is to expand surveillance for feline H5N1, and ultimately other infectious diseases, across the United States.

In addition to testing for current infections, the team will look for the presence of antibodies indicating a previous infection, perform genomic analysis of H5N1 viral samples obtained from cats, and study the virus’ hemagglutinin protein, which plays a role in how viruses enter and infect the body.

The data generated from this initiative is expected to inform best practices for monitoring, controlling, treating and potentially preventing H5N1 outbreaks involving cats. It will also help guide public health officials and veterinary professionals as they prepare for future zoonotic risks.

“By focusing on the role of cats in the ecology of H5N1, we are not only protecting feline health but also contributing vital information that may help mitigate transmission of one of the most rapidly evolving transmissible viruses to other species, including humans,” said Dr. Lorin Warnick, Ph.D. ’94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine.

The consortium’s interdisciplinary team, all in CVM, includes: Gary Whittaker, the James Law Professor of Virology; Dr. Lena DeTar, associate clinical professor of shelter medicine; Dr. Diego Diel, associate professor of virology; Dr. Elisha Frye, D.V.M. ’10, associate professor of practice; and Laura Goodman, Ph.D. ’07, assistant professor in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health and in the Baker Institute for Animal Health.